Eastman Chemical Co. says it’s developed a process that combines heat, pressure, and an “organic compound” (which it won’t name) to make wood cells impervious to moisture and rot. Its Perennial Wood is supposedly 25 percent harder and three times more stable than raw wood. It’s available as 5/4x6 bullnose deckboards for about $3 per linear foot; other applications are pending. Eastman Chemical Co., 800/530-7495, perennialwood.com.
